Dateline 2001: Mutts n Stuff Rescue receives a report about a dog roaming Lemay Ferry Road.

Approximately 18 months old, "Big Boy" was painfully thin at 30 pounds, half bald with Demodex mange and unable to use his injured* right hind leg.

Mutts (www.muttsandstuff.com) picked Big Boy up and placed him in the group's foster care. Surgery was arranged to reattach the Achilles tendon, and after weeks of medicated baths and regular feedings, Big Boy was given a clean bill of health. This "new" dog needed a new name ... Achilles was placed up for adoption.

After the recent loss of her senior cocker/beagle mix to liver failure, Erin Starbuck realized the time was right to act on her love of the pit bull breed. She searched the Internet and found Achilles on www.PetFinder.com. Not overly impressed by his look, but drawn to him by his sad start in life, Starbuck decided she needed to meet this little boy. 

There were no names on the crates when Starbuck arrived at a Mutt's adoption event, nevertheless, she found herself walking straight toward a skinny, dark-brindle pit. She looked down at him, he looked at her and she said, "You must be Achilles." At that, he wagged his tail and smiled ... and both began falling in love. 

After successfully meeting Tesh, Starbuck's 18-month-old pharaoh hound, Achilles had secured himself a forever home.

Starbuck, who now works as an obedience trainer and temperament tester for Mutts N Stuff, vows she will have a rescued pit bull for the rest of her life.

"Achilles is a wonderful ambassador for the pit bull breed, winning new friends and educating young people regularly. He recently earned his Canine Good Citizen title from the AKC and will begin obedience competition soon. Achilles also enjoys accompanying sister Tesh to her lure coursing competitions."

Starbuck can't imagine life without Achilles and calls him the best dog she's ever had (but don't tell Tesh).

*The rest of the story: Someone saw a man beating his wife with a pipe of some kind, Achilles got in between to protect her and was beaten instead (breaking his leg). The police were called, the woman was taken to the hospital, the man was taken to jail and Achilles was left to fend for himself. 

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Haley, pictured above, is Starbuck's daughter.

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Check out Achilles Heel!, training tips from the dog's eye view, in the The St. Charles Humane Society newsletter:
http://www.stcharleshumanesociety.org/assets/applets/Newsletter_Jan_04.pdf

or

http://www.therealmartha.com/AchillesHeel/index.htm

Achilles loves mail!
achillescgc@yahoo.com

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Meet another outstanding canine social worker, of the sloppy wet-kissin' kind
http://www.therealmartha.com/LPNs/index.htm
Licensed Practical Noogiests

More two- and four-legged sweeties together
http://www.therealmartha.com/ChowBaby/index.htm

Critter page index
http://www.therealmartha.com/CritterIndex/index.htm

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Comments/questions always welcome: marthajones@stcharleshumanesociety.org

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